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'Teacher, carpenter, nurse' housing: Workforce condo project breaks ground in Westbrook

people shoveling dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony PHOTO / JIM NEUGER Breaking ground on a 45-unit condominium project in Westbrook was, from left: Jennifer Hawkins, president and CEO of Avesta Housing; Gov. Janet Mills; Tim Hebert, CEO of Hebert Construction; David Morse, mayor of Wesbrook; Simon Hebert, COO of Hebert Construction; and developer Jack Soley.
By Tina Fischer

A 45-unit condominium complex targeting middle-income, first-time homebuyers broke ground this week in Westbrook — adding to a growing neighborhood of new housing projects off Seavey Street. 

man speaks at microphone
PHOTO / JIM NEUGER
Jack Soley

The project, dubbed Clover Terraces, is slated for completion in late 2026. It marks the first project for Domus, a new development group based in Portland.

The dwellings are intended for middle-income, first-time homebuyers — people who earn between 80% and 120% of the area median income — too much to qualify for subsidized housing but too little to afford skyrocketing home prices. 

“The teacher, the carpenter, the nurse, all these people who provide essential services to our society are being left behind," Jack Soley, Domus co-founder and longtime Portland-area developer, said at the groundbreaking. "They can no longer afford to live where they work.” 

rendering of a condo building
RENDERING / COURTESY KAPLAN THOMPSON ARCHITECTS
Clover Terraces is expected to be completed in Westbrook in late 2026.

Soley teamed on the project with Lewiston-based Hebert Construction and Avesta Housing, a Portland-based nonprofit.

More on the way 

The team plans to follow its initial project in Westbrook with affordably priced condominium complexes in Freeport, Rockland and beyond, featuring the same square footage, layouts and construction details as Clover Terraces.

The one- and two-bedroom condos are energy efficient and averaging 500 square feet. They feature wood and tile flooring, high ceilings, large windows and in-unit laundry facilities. Tim Hebert said finishes will be “high end.”

The project is part of an evolving residential housing campus close to downtown Westbrook which also includes the recently built 65-unit Seavey Terraces apartment building, developed by Soley and Hebert, and Seavey Crossing, an Avesta Housing complex under construction, which will offer 61 affordable apartments for residents 55 and older. 

Soley said Clover Terraces is being built without subsidies. The team aims to make the project work by pricing a quarter of the condos at market rates, and the rest at "workforce housing" rates.

'Critical shortage'

"Entry-level housing is an essential component of any healthy, diverse community, but Maine faces a critical shortage that is making it increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers and current homeowners looking to relocate for career opportunities," said Jennifer Hawkins, Avesta's president and CEO.

“This scarcity of accessible housing doesn’t just impact potential homeowners, it also affects employers’ ability to attract and retain quality staff. Domus was created to help address this need," she added.

Gov. Janet Mills, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Ryan Fecteau and Westbrook city officials also took part in the groundbreaking, shovels in hand. 

Norway Savings Bank is financing the project. Portland-based Kaplan Thompson Architects is the design team. 
 

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